Disposition of Federal Records: A Records Management Handbook

Examine organization charts and functional statements to find out which agency and office
functions are administrative, or housekeeping, and which are program, or mission-related. For
example, an oversight agency should regard as program records all its records related to the
Government-wide management of administrative functions.

Identify the record series or systems documenting the agency's administrative and program
functions.

Remember that GRS dispositions apply to records common to several or all agencies rather
than records unique to an individual agency.

Make sure the GRS version being used is the latest edition, including all changes issued by NARA.

Read the GRS's overall introduction, each schedule's introduction, and all NARA
issuances transmitting changes to the GRS, and note any limitations on use.

2. Use the GRS retention periods for all applicable agency records unless NARA has already
approved a shorter retention period for particular agency records or unless the agency has clear
grounds to request an exception by submitting an SF 115 to NARA. (In some instances NARA may
announce that a revised or new GRS retention period must be applied without exception.)

3. Follow these other rules for applying the GRS to agency records:

Use the GRS table of contents to find a particular category of records.

Use the subject and forms indexes to match record series or systems with GRS items.

Do not use a GRS item if it applies to only part of a record series or system.

Do not use the GRS for program records. Instead submit an SF 115 to NARA.

Do not expect the GRS to contain disposition authorities for all administrative records. Submit
an SF 115 for those not scheduled by the GRS.

Do not use GRS correspondence items for general correspondence (i.e., correspondence covering multiple functional areas) maintained as a single series.

Follow NARA guidelines in tailoring GRS items to fit agency records.

As with all records, remember to cut off, or break, records covered by the GRS before
applying the disposition instructions.

Refer to NARA any GRS-related questions not resolved within the agency.

4. Incorporate applicable GRS disposition authorities into the agency records schedule by using one of the following methods:

Interspersing them item by item among disposition authorities approved on SF 115's.

Attaching the GRS as a whole to the remainder of the agency records schedule.

5. Review and, if necessary, update the agency's records schedule at least annually and within 6 months of NARA's issuance of new or revised GRS items for which the agency has no exception.